Ivo Daalder on Trump's Ukraine Peace Approach and Russian Aggression

Trump's Flawed Peace Strategy

• 🎯 Donald Trump's approach to the Ukraine war is criticized for being flawed from the outset, failing to distinguish between the victim (Ukraine) and the aggressor (Russia).
• 💡 The core issue is Trump's perceived notion that both sides are equally to blame, or that Ukraine bears more responsibility for a war initiated by Russia.

The 28-Point Peace Plan

• 🧩 A 28-point peace plan, reportedly drafted by Steve Witkoff, is described as having no input from Ukrainians and insufficient consultation with European allies or even within Washington.
• ⚠️ This plan, presented as a 'take it or leave it' offer, was seen as a near-complete capitulation by Ukraine, requiring territorial concessions, force limitations, and prohibiting NATO membership.
• ✅ Fortunately, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy engaged in discussions to modify the plan, averting an immediate disaster, though a peace deal remains distant.

Shifting Peace Proposals

• 🔍 While details of the revised 19-point plan are not public, it's speculated that concessions regarding European action, territorial integrity, and security guarantees have been adjusted.
• 📌 The original plan's demand for Ukraine to cede territory seized by Russia is unlikely to be accepted by Ukraine or Europe.

US Even-Handedness and Russian Rejection

• ⚖️ Ivo Daalder argues against the US being "even-handed" between a victim and an aggressor, stating there's nothing to be even-handed about in such a scenario.
• 🚫 Russia has already indicated that the latest proposals, even those developed with European input, are not constructive for Moscow.

The Path to Ending the War

• 🚀 The war will only end when pressure is applied to Russia and Ukraine is supported, not through a flawed peace process that ignores the fundamental aggression.
• 💰 Daalder hopes that any potential US withdrawal from the peace process will not undermine Ukraine's self-defense capabilities or weaken European support, especially as European nations are funding much of the military aid.
• 📈 The US needs to seriously consider economic and other pressures on Russia to bring them to the negotiating table.